Hearing aid



Nqv. 2, 1937. F. 1.. ALLOWAY HEARING AID Filed Feb. 4, 1936 Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

My invention relates generally to hearing aids, and particularly to a sound vibration increasing device for insertion in the ear of the subject, whereby natural sound waves are naturally mag- 5 nified and conveyed to the inner ear, and an important object of the invention is to provide a small, compact, inexpensive, and efficient device of the character indicated.

Another important object of the invention is 10 to provide a hearing device of the character indicated above in which a body of fluid capable of transmission of sound vibration at a faster rate than air, is confined between a sound vibration receiving diaphragm exposed to the air, and

atransmitted sound vibration transmitting therefrom disposed within the inner ear.

Other important objects of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description in connection with the drawing,

20 wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawing:- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention showing the same applied 25 to the ear.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 2. d Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 5 refers generally to the embodiment which comprises a tubular cylinder 6 formed of hard rubber or similarly suitable material and having at its axially outward end a funnel formation I hav- 35 ing the radially inturned lip 8 which retains a silver or soft rubber diaphragm 9, designed to be exposed to sound vibrations in the air.

At the opposite end of the cylinder 6 and in said inner groove I0 is the transmitting dia- 40 phragm I I which may be of silver or of soft rubber or other suitable material, so as to be suitably responsive to the vibrations, and form an adequate closure for the cylinder 6, which contains a quantity of liquid designated by the numeral l2, which should have a capacity of transmitting sound vibrations approximately ten times that of atmospheric air. It is to be observed that the axially inward end of the cylinder is cut oii at an angle, and that the funnel form 1 is disposed at approximately similar angulation, so as to better conform to the shape of the outer and inner ear as indicated generally in Figure 1. A filling opening 13 is closable by a screw plug M, to enable removing and replenishing the fluid 12 in the cylinder 6.

Although I have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not desire to limit the application of the invention thereto, and any change or changes may be made in the materials, and in the structure and arrangement of the parts, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:--

l. A hearing device comprising a body for supportable insertion in the main outer passage of the ear, said body comprising a tube of a diameter to substantially snugly fit said passage, said tube having a relatively small inner end and an enlarged outwardly tapering outer end, said 1 inner end being formed with an internal groove,

a relatively small sound vibration diaphragm closing said small end and having its edges seated in said groove, said enlarged outer end being formed with an internal groove, a relatively large sound vibration diaphragm closing said outer end and having its edges seated in said groove.

2. A hearing device comprising a body for supportable insertion in the main outer passage of the ear, said body comprising a tube of a diameter to substantially snugly fit said passage, said tube having a relatively small inner end and an enlarged outwardly tapering outer end, said inner end being'formed with an internal groove,

a relatively small sound vibration diaphragm closing said small end and having its edges seated in said groove, said enlarged outer end being formed with an internal groove, a relatively large sound vibration diaphragm closing said outer end and having its edges seated in said groove, and a quantity of sound wave transmitting fluid substantially filling the interior of said tube between the diaphragms whereby the rate of transmission of sound waves or vibrations due to the impingement of sound waves on the exterior of said large 40 diaphragm is increased in effect on said small diaphragm for transmission into the ear.

3. A hearing device comprising a body for supportable insertion in the main outer passage of the ear, said body comprising a tube of a diameter to substantially snugly fit said passage, said tube having a relatively small inner end and an enlarged outwardly tapering outer end, said inner end being formed with an internal groove,

a relatively small sound vibration diaphragm closing said small end and having its edges seated in said groove, said enlarged outer end being formed with an internal groove, a relatively large sound vibration diaphragm closing said outer end and having its edges seated in said groove, and a quantity of sound wave transmitting fluid substantially filling the interior of said tube between the diaphragms whereby the rate of transmission of sound Waves or vibrations due to the impingement of sound waves on the exterior of said large diaphragm is increased in efiect on said small diaphragm for transmission into the ear, said diaphragms being substantially parallel and arranged at an acute angle With respect to the axis of the tube.

4. A hearing device comprising a body for supportable insertion in the main outer passage of the ear, said body comprising a tube of a-- diameter to substantially snugly fit said passage, said tube having a relatively small inner end and an enlarged outwardly tapering outer end, said inner end being formed with an internal groove, a relatively small sound vibration diaphragm closing said small end and having its edges seated in said groove, said enlarged outer end being formed with an internal groove, a relatively large sound vibration diaphragm closing said outer end and having its edges seated in said groove, the diaphragms being made of flexible rubber.

5. A hearing device comprising a body for supportable insertion in the main outer passage of the ear, said body comprising a tube of a diameter to substantially snugly fit said passage, said tube having a relatively small inner end and an enlarged outwardly tapering outer end, said inner end being formed with an internal groove, a relatively small sound vibration diaphragm closing said small end and having its edges seated in said groove, said enlarged outer end being formed with an internal groove, a relatively large sound vibration diaphragm closing said outer end and having its edges seated in said groove, the diaphragms being made of silver.

FRANK L. ALLOVVAY. 

